A massive winter storm has paralysed a huge section of the United States, burying parts of the Midwest in over a foot of snow and unleashing travel chaos during the busiest Thanksgiving holiday weekend. For Kenyans with family, business, or academic ties to the U.S., the storm has turned travel plans into a nightmare of cancellations and uncertainty.

The timing of the storm, hitting as millions of Americans travelled home, has magnified its impact. Over 53 million people from South Dakota to New York were placed under winter weather alerts. The disruption directly affects international travellers, including those flying to and from Kenya, with Chicago's O'Hare International Airport—a critical hub for global travel—being one of the hardest-hit airports.

Widespread Travel Paralysis

The storm's impact on aviation has been severe. Across the United States, thousands of flights were cancelled or delayed over the weekend. According to the flight-tracking service FlightAware, Chicago's O'Hare airport alone saw nearly half of its Saturday schedule cancelled. On Sunday, hundreds more flights were grounded across the country.

This has created a ripple effect, stranding passengers and complicating travel for days to come. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the U.S. acknowledged that heavy snow, ice, and high holiday volume were creating major constraints on the air travel system.

On-the-Ground Incidents Rattle Travellers

The hazardous conditions led to multiple dangerous incidents on the ground. In Iowa, a Delta Connection flight carrying 54 passengers and four crew members slid off a runway upon landing in Des Moines amid blizzard-like conditions on Saturday night. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, but the incident forced the airport to close temporarily, adding to the widespread travel disruptions.

On the roads, conditions were equally treacherous. Indiana State Police reported a massive 45-vehicle pile-up on a major interstate on Saturday. Sergeant Matt Ames of the Indiana State Police urged the public to avoid travel, stating, "Folks, if you can stay home, stay home." No serious injuries were reported from the pile-up.

• Flights Cancelled (Sat & Sun): Nearly 2,200 flights were cancelled across the U.S.
• Record Snowfall: Chicago's O'Hare airport recorded 8.4 inches (21cm) of snow on Saturday, a new record for the snowiest November day.
• People Affected: At its peak, the winter weather alerts covered an estimated 53 million people.

As the storm system moves eastward, authorities are warning of continued disruptions. For travellers, including Kenyans trying to navigate the chaos, the advice is to check constantly with airlines and brace for significant ongoing delays as operators work to get planes and crews back in position.